Correspondence

ESFA Update academies: 13 September 2023

Published 13 September 2023

Applies to England

1. Information: academies accounts return 2022 to 2023 online form now open

The academies accounts return online form is now live for users to complete and submit their trust’s return by the 30 January 2024 deadline.

The accounts return can only be submitted by the trust’s external auditor approver. Please check that the external auditor details are correct as soon as possible, this is to ensure they have access to the return and avoid delays in submitting. For more information, see our guidance.

If you have difficulties accessing the form please read the IDAMS registration guidance. Your login details will be the same ones as previously used for the budget forecast returns earlier in the year.

2. Information: revised statements available for 2023 to 2024 16 to 19 revenue funding allocations

On 13 July 2023 we announced a further investment of £185 million in 2023 to 2024 financial year and £285 million in 2024 to 2025 financial year to drive forward skills delivery in the further education sector.

This funding will help colleges and other 16 to 19 providers to address key priorities as they see fit, including tackling recruitment and retention issues in high-value technical, vocational, and academic provision which are of critical importance to our economic growth and prosperity.

We explained the changes we’ve made to 16 to 19 allocations and updated the supporting guidance. We’ve uploaded revised 16 to 19 allocation statement for academic year 2023 to Document Exchange.

If you have any questions after reviewing your statement and guidance, please contact us using our online enquiry form.

3. Information: themes arising from ESFA’s assurance work

We have published the themes arising from ESFA’s assurance work. The outcomes of our assurance work relate to the financial management and governance of the academies sector in 2022 to 2023.

Highlighting common themes in our work aims to enable the sector to improve the quality of its financial governance. The briefing is for academy trust accounting officers, finance staff and trustees. Auditors of academy trust accounts may also find it helpful.

4. Information: updated good practice guide for streamlined energy and carbon reporting (SECR) in academy trusts

We have updated our good practice guide for streamlined energy and carbon reporting (SECR) to reflect the latest emissions conversion factors. The guide will help chief financial officers, accounting officers and trustees of academy trusts to comply with their legal obligations to report energy consumption in their 2022/23 accounts.

The updated guide can be found in the full list of available good practice guides. These guides support trustees, accounting officers, principals and chief financial officers to develop good practice in their trust.

5. Information: VAT recovery for academies

Academies can recover VAT they incur on non-business activities. However, if you make supplies that are:

• both business and non-business for VAT purposes, you may need to do a B/NB calculation
• exempt for VAT purposes, you may need to do a partial exemption calculation

5.1 Business/non-business calculation

You first need to apportion VAT on purchases that you use both for B/NB purposes.

Examples are in the VBNB33000 Manual. Most businesses use income-based methods.

5.2 Partial exemption calculation

After you’ve done the B/NB calculation, you need to do a partial exemption calculation, include any VAT on purchases that are:

• directly for business use
• apportioned to business use in your B/NB calculation

You can’t recover input tax on purchases used to make exempt supplies unless de-minimis.

For more information about these rules and how to do the calculation, go to GOV.UK and search ‘VAT notice 706’.

5.3 When to contact us

You need to contact us for approval if you want to use:

• a combined business/non-business and partial exemption method
• a partial exemption special method, because you feel that the standard method doesn’t produce a fair and reasonable result

Please email HMRC at mailboxlasector@hmrc.gov.uk quoting reference ‘AcademyPE’ in the subject line of your email.

6. Information: School Business Professional (SBP) roundtable events – book your place now

If you would like to join other SBPs from across your region to network, share your procurement issues and priorities, and find out more about the free procurement support available from the DfE, you can register to attend one of the upcoming roundtable events.

The roundtables are free to attend, and locations have now been confirmed for the autumn term.

Register now and don’t miss out.

7. Information: join these webinars on approved frameworks and see how you could save money for your school

The Schools Commercial Team is hosting free webinars on how using the approved frameworks could save you time and help your school get value for money.

September webinars are listed below. Click on the links to find out more and book your place:

• How the Get help buying for schools service can support your school buying
• Risk protection arrangement – DfE’s alternative to commercial insurance
• Hiring supply teachers and agency workers
• Buying catering services for your school
• Buying energy efficiency measures for your school through ESPO

You can find the full programme of webinars for the autumn term on the Autumn 2023 webinar page. Visit the page to find out more and book your place.

8. Information: book a 1:1 chat to discuss your school’s buying needs – spaces available on Thursday 21 September

The Schools Commercial Team is offering the opportunity for a free, virtual 1:1 conversation with a member of the team on Thursday 21 September to see how they can support you.

You can speak to them about anything you like to help you make informed buying choices for your school. There is no pressure or obligation to take any of the recommendations forward following the conversation.

Book a conversation now.

9. Information: RPA Members only: Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) – Workshop

Willis Towers Watson is providing risk management support for all RPA members through audit, guidance and advice. As part of the risk management support, RPA members are invited to a workshop covering:

• the background and historical use of RAAC in school premises and its risks
• identification, assessment, and management strategies to reduce risk to an acceptable level

Place will be allocated on a first come first served basis:

• 21 September 2023
• 27 September 2023